Viola seeds, stratify or not?

Would stratification give me better overall results? Also do I keep them in the dark or not? T & M say don't exclude light, other sites say germinate in darkness? so which is correct???

Val

 

Which species Val? Makes a difference I think.

 

They are just the self seeding annual type but I can't always get the kind I fancy as plants, only as seeds, like 'Bowles Black' for example, I grew this one from seed last year, but only just managed to get enough germinated to fill a pot. I just think I must be doing something wrong.

Val

 

Ok - as they're summer bloomers I'd have said warmish window sill, lightly covered with a sprinkle of compost/perlite and not too wet.

 

I think you might be sowing the wrong time of year.
A lot of these kind of plants wont germinate in high temps, it a bit like lettuce.
I would go for a late summer autumn sowing for flowering the following year

 

When I googled viola germination, stratification kept coming up for better results, so I have made my mind up..............into the fridge they are going!!!!!!

Val